By Philip Ruge-Jones, Associate Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church
The eight Eau Claire churches affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will be participating in “God’s Work. Our Hands” culminating this coming Sunday (Oct. 14).
Across the country, thousands of ELCA members choose a Sunday for service work to make a positive change in their communities, build and deepen relationships and share God’s love.
Members of the eight local ELCA churches will be working with community partners across the city on a variety of projects. This is the first year that the “God’s Work. Our Hands” project has been undertaken with coordination between the participating churches.
Those churches include Good Shepherd, Grace, Hope, Immanuel, St. John, Spirit, Trinity and University Lutheran.
Community agencies that are participating include The Community Table, Feed My People, Veterans Home, Habitat for Humanity, Grace Lutheran Communities, Boys and Girls Club, East Hill Association, Sojourner House, and Beacon House.
Bandages will be prepared to ship to countries in need of medical resources. Local initiatives to intervene in the hardship of those caught up into human trafficking will be launched. An opportunity to learn how make our voices heard by legislators will also be offered.
All of these activities provide a reminder to church members that God loves the world and calls those who follow him to be active participants in mending the brokenness around and within us.
For more than 30 years, the ELCA has been a national church deeply rooted in faith and in sharing its passion for making positive changes in the world. These congregations join with others across the country to participate in God’s work in the world – restoring and reconciling communities, and pursuing peace and justice.
“Once a year we set aside a Sunday to remind us of how to live every single day. Caught up in God’s love, we seek to share that love with those around us. I love this day and am even more excited this year that all these churches will work together,” said one participant awaiting the opportunity to be part of this shared venture.
Keep your eyes out this week for the bright yellow T-shirts inscribed with the slogan, “God’s Work, Our Hands.”
Editor’s Note: Some 280 people signed up for this effort in advance and organizers are hoping that another hundred or so people will turn out on the weekend. Anyone wishing to sign up for the project can do so at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2434031/false#/invitation, where the various options for participation on Saturday and Sunday are listed.